Delicious Indian Baby Food Recipes

Tantalizing Indian Baby Food Ideas

Not just for the grown-ups, these Indian baby food recipes are nutritious and introduce your baby to some delightful new flavours.

Contrary to popular belief, Indian food does not have to be “hot” – many spices used are simply aromatic and delicious, and babies love them! Like many of us, I have always enjoyed Indian food and ate it often whilst pregnant and when breastfeeding. Perhaps this is why our children have all taken readily to more exotic recipes!

We recommend introducing these recipes from around 7-8 months (for older babies, visit Indian baby food recipes for your 10-12 month baby) , but use your discretion – if you feel your baby has a “sensitive tummy”, then you may wish to wait a little longer. See the allergies page for more information about food sensitivity.

And always remember to apply the four day rule when introducing any new food to your baby.

Note: These recipes are best suited to babies capable of chewing small lumps.

Heat the oil and fry the onions with the cinnamon until tender. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown. Add the potatoes and spices and stir well. Finally, add the water and lentils and cook for about 30 mins, until the lentils are soft. You may need to add extra water towards the end of the cooking time, to prevent the curry from becoming too dry. Serve with brown or white overcooked rice.

Heat the oil in a saucepan and cook the onion and carrot for a few minutes, until tender. Add the tomato puree and the spices, stirring continuously and cook for 2 mins. Add the potato, cauliflower, peas, coconut and water, then bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, then simmer, covered, for about 20 mins. Mash well and serve.

*Ghee is clarified butter, sometimes known as “drawn butter”. It is normal butter that has been treated to remove its’ “non-fat” elements. This process makes it a better cooking medium. To make ghee, melt regular butter gently in a strong saucepan. You will see the butter-fat separating and the milk solids sinking to the bottom of the pan. A white foam will form on top – simply turn off the heat and remove the foam with a spoon. You are then left with clarified butter!

In a large frying pan, heat the butter and oil, then saute the onions for about 10 mins, until tender. Add the cardamom, ginger, cloves and bay leaf. Saute until the onions are brown (about 5 mins). Slowly add the yogurt and coriander to the pan, stirring constantly. Once the yogurt is absorbed, add the chicken and cook until golden. Add the water, reduce the heat and simmer for 30 mins. Stir in the milk, then remove from the heat. Allow to sit for a while – this improves the flavour. Don’t forget to remove the bay leaf and cloves before mashing and serving with white or brown rice (overcook the rice slightly, so it is nice and mushy for baby).

Melt the butter in a large saucepan. Add the cumin and bay leaf and cook for 2 mins. Add the vegetables and cook very gently for 10 mins, stirring occasionally. Pour in the water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until all the vegetables are tender. Remove the bay leaf. If the dish is too textured for your baby, then simply puree in a food processor.

Have fun preparing these Indian baby food recipes and serving them to your little one –

by introducing him to a wider variety of flavours now, you are developing his palate and preventing “fussy feeding” later on.